Elevation, wind, green make 16th a formidable challenge
The closing four holes at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, the site of this year's Mass. Amateur, are a solid test for match play golf, providing a number of different ways for a player to not only tame the course but see what his competitor is doing.
At Taconic's No. 1 stroke hole, the 460-yard, par-4 16th, players have a flat tee shot that needs to hit the fairway. The second shot, often the most important one at Taconic, is partially blind because the green is 10-15 yards above the fairway.
Club selection is paramount at a hilly place like Taconic with a number of shots being affected by the elevation change.
“Elevation is a key part of playing Taconic,” said course pro and Williams College men's golf coach Josh Hillman. “Being able to shoot the (yardage) number and then say, `This is 150 (yards), but you're uphill 15 yards.' So you've got to take that into consideration and get your numbers right.”
Playing among the Berkshires also means players can expect to have wind to contend with. It figures to play more of a factor than it did the last time the Mass. Amateur was held here in 2004 because designer Gil Hanse has removed approximately 2,000 trees as part of a renovation between 2008 and 2009, according to Hillman.
Pin location is also a critical component at No. 16 as the ball needs to be kept below the flagstick on a green that slopes significantly from back to front. A pair of bunkers guard the front left and front right portions of the green.
Taconic Golf Club is a semi-private course so the public is able to find tee times. Rounds are $160, including a cart, but discounts are available for those who play with alumni of Williams College, which owns the land.